U.S. forces rely on dogs to detect bombs in Iraq. Insurgents rig them with explosives.

By Borzou Daragahi
Times Staff Writer

August 10, 2005

BAGHDAD ó These are the dogs of war.

At a checkpoint leading to the U.S.-protected Green Zone, Gordy stands sentry. The affable Belgian Malinois has a nose finely tuned to detect the nitrates, plastic explosives, gunpowder and detonation cords that suicide bombers use to blow up people.

On a barren stretch of road in northern Iraq, a dog rigged with explosives approaches a group of Iraqi police officers. Detonated by remote control, the bomb tears the dog apart but doesn't harm the cops.

In a war where the line between civilian and soldier is blurred, even man's best friend has been caught up in the combat. U.S. forces hail their trained dogs as heroes, but to insurgents, canines provide the means for a more sinister goal.

Iraqi police cite the recent use of dogs rigged with explosive devices in Latifiya, just south of Baghdad, in Baqubah in central Iraq and in and around the northern city of Kirkuk.

Some Iraqis are horrified by the ethics of dragging the animal world into a human conflict.

"How can they use these lovely pets for criminal and murderous acts?" asked Rasha Khairir, 25, an employee of a Baghdad stock brokerage. "A poor dog can't refuse what they are doing with him because he can't think and decide."

Despite a common prejudice in the Muslim world against dogs, which are considered unclean, even the most virulent clerical opponents of the U.S. presence in Iraq have decried the use of canines as proxies in the war.

Abdel Salam Kubaisi, a spokesman for the Muslim Scholars Assn., a hard-line Sunni Arab clerical organization sympathetic to insurgents, called the practice un-Islamic. "Our religion does not permit us to hurt animals," he said, "neither by using them as explosive devices nor in any other manner."

U.S. troops extol the virtues of their canine allies in the war against the insurgents.

"Dogs are vital in Iraqi counterinsurgency efforts," said Staff Sgt. Ann Pitt, 35, of Buffalo, N.Y., a U.S. Army dog handler based near the southern city of Nasiriya.

"We have many items to help us do our mission, but I don't think we have a better detection tool than a dog," said Pitt, who cares for Buddy, another Belgian Malinois, a dog similar to a German shepherd. "These dogs are amazing. They are more dependable and effective than almost anything we have available to us."

The Army has deployed dogs since World War I to locate trip wires, track enemies, stand guard at base perimeters and search tunnels for explosives or booby traps.

Even these dogs weren't always treated kindly. Of 4,300 dogs sent to Vietnam, 2,000 were handed over to the South Vietnamese army and 2,000 were put to sleep. Only 200 managed to make it home, said Ron Aiello, Vietnam War-era dog handler who runs U.S. War Dog, a 1,100-member Burlington, N.J., organization.

His group set up a website, http://www.uswardogs.org , to raise funds for a memorial to honor the dogs and their handlers.

In Iraq, dogs like Gordy and Buddy are posted at checkpoints and at entrances to government buildings.

They sniff for explosives among reporters' equipment at news conferences and passengers' bags at Baghdad's international airport.

"What we do is prevent people from getting killed," said Artwell Chibero, Gordy's 29-year-old Zimbabwean handler, an employee of a private security firm hired by the Defense Department.

Dogs have 25 times more smell receptors than humans, Pitt said.

"We smell spaghetti sauce and we think, 'Oh, the spaghetti sauce smells good,' " Pitt said. "To a dog, they would smell the tomatoes, the onions, the basil, oregano. They smell all the odors individually."

Insurgents have long stuffed roadside bombs into the carcasses of animals. But Iraqi security officials say they increasingly worry about the use of live animals.

"Dogs have been used in many areas by insurgents throughout Iraq" to carry explosive devices, said Noori Noori, inspector-general at the Interior Ministry. "They used mentally retarded people for operations during the elections, so why wouldn't they use animals?"

Last year in Ramadi, in the vast desert west of the capital, insurgents dispatched a booby-trapped donkey toward a U.S.-run checkpoint around sunset. "As one of the soldiers tried to stop it, the donkey exploded," said resident Mohammed Yas, 45. The only casualty was the donkey.

"Before, they used to use car bombs. Now they are using people and animals," said Col. Adnan Jaboori, a spokesman for the interior minister. "They are finding new ways to use remote-control technology."

The daily newspaper Al Mada recently published an editorial cartoon showing an insurgent who strongly resembled Saddam Hussein trying to persuade a dog to strap on a belt bomb to advance the cause of the Baath Party, which once ruled Iraq.

"It is such a simple task," the insurgent tells the terrified dog. "All you have to do is to put on this explosives belt, repeat the party's slogans, and may Allah have mercy on your father's soul!"
******
:banghead: :cuss: :banghead:

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Rebar

August 12, 2005, 03:39 PM

The terrorists are showing a lot of signs that they're running out of steam. They are reduced to using mentally-challenged boys, and now dogs, to commit their crimes. It puts the lie to that they have an unending supply of people willing to die for their cause.

Sindawe

August 12, 2005, 03:40 PM

This is not a new development. The Russian military also trained suicide dogs, during WW II. The dogs (half staved) were loaded with explosives, and trained to seek out food under moving tanks; a trigger device attached to their backpacks, would depressed causing an explosion capable of cutting through the steel under belly of the tanks.

In one day, alone, on the Izyum sector, these canine tank busters destroyed nine tanks and two armored cars. So feared by the Germans, that as soon as they heard the barking and saw the running dogs, they would frantically turned their tanks around and head back towards their own lines, for they knew from experience what was in store for them.

One Russian correspondent stated that "the dogs have saved thousands upon thousands of lives on the Russian front." And he was right!

Source: http://community-2.webtv.net/@HH!FC!CB!1103B45BEEFD/Hahn-50thAP-K9/K9History21/ If this is indeed a war, as the Jihadist nutcases and our our government have repeatedly stated, why would it be legit for the Soviets, but not the Jihadists?

El Tejon

August 12, 2005, 03:44 PM

Everything old is new again. Every war we re-learn the techniques of the last war and the many, many wars before it.

Every war people are outraged by the tactics of wars past.

buzz_knox

August 12, 2005, 04:27 PM

Maybe now the liberals will actually get outraged at the terrorists, rather than requiring us to "understand their cries for justice."

tulsamal

August 12, 2005, 04:27 PM

"We have many items to help us do our mission, but I don't think we have a better detection tool than a dog," said Pitt, who cares for Buddy, another Belgian Malinois, a dog similar to a German shepherd.

I guess that depends on the quality of the Malinois and the quality of the GSD! The AKC standards for the two breeds are a long way apart. And the Malinois is a much healthier dog which is why the military started buying Malinois back in the 1980's. The military has way too big an investment in their working dogs to have them develop hip dysplasia or other problems early in life.

We have nine Malinois right now. None of mine "are similar to a German Shepherd!" In the photos on the newspaper site, the first one is darn ugly. Practically looks like a Pit Bull. The second is decent. They are smart dogs.

http://www.alouettebelgians.com/

Gregg

R.H. Lee

August 12, 2005, 04:39 PM

We shouldn't even be on the ground in that hellhole, until we've thoroughly massaged it from the air first.

DelayedReaction

August 12, 2005, 04:49 PM

Even these dogs weren't always treated kindly. Of 4,300 dogs sent to Vietnam, 2,000 were handed over to the South Vietnamese army and 2,000 were put to sleep. Only 200 managed to make it home, said Ron Aiello, Vietnam War-era dog handler who runs U.S. War Dog, a 1,100-member Burlington, N.J., organization.

Unfortunately it isn't as easy as just handing the dog over to a loving family. It's my understanding that guard dogs are extremely hard to control except by the master they've been trained with, and many times the death of a master requires the death of the dog as well.

mete

August 12, 2005, 04:56 PM

Why do we need terrorists ? We have unions !! A strike of airline personnel in the UK has stranded over 70,000 passengers !!

71Commander

August 12, 2005, 05:00 PM

Maybe now the liberals will actually get outraged at the terrorists, rather than requiring us to "understand their cries for justice."

Not hardly. Nothing short of total withdrawl will satisfy them.

Fight them there or fight them here is an alien concept to them. :banghead:

Rebar

August 12, 2005, 05:53 PM

Fight them there or fight them here is an alien concept to them.
They hate Bush so much, that they're willing to accept bombs going off in our streets, if it means the defeat of his policies.

R.H. Lee

August 12, 2005, 06:00 PM

Bush needs to make bombs go off in the streets of the Sunni triangle if he expects his 'policies' to be effective.

grampster

August 12, 2005, 06:11 PM

Amazing. An Islamic cleric has a sensitivity toward dogs and animals, but supports the mass murder of innocent people. Sounds like he belongs in America and be granted charter membership in PETA or Greenpeace.

Marshall

August 12, 2005, 06:13 PM

why would it be legit for the Soviets, but not the Jihadists?

Who said it was legit?

Nice try to make it OK though. :rolleyes:

KriegHund

August 12, 2005, 06:33 PM

Someone beat me to the soviets thing....

Is it right? Heck no. I love dogs. My black lab is sitting with snot hanging out his nose and a bewildered look to my dad as to why hes not playing with him right now.

BUT- Weve got to learn to deal with it.

scout26

August 12, 2005, 07:32 PM

Sounds like it time to pack up all our PETA folks and send 'em over to Iraq so that they protest by throwing fake blood on the terrorists......

Sounds like it time to pack up all our PETA folks and send 'em over to Iraq so that they protest by throwing fake blood on the terrorists......

+1

c_yeager

August 13, 2005, 06:43 AM

What i find particularly amusing about this is that for about 40 years the terrorists have found that its easier to brainwash people than it is to train dogs.

Think about this for a moment, would a dog volunteer for this mission if it KNEW what was going to happen? People do. But, of course, were the smart ones.

Risasi

August 13, 2005, 08:52 AM

Let's up the ante, why don't we start training pigs then to be sniffers?

In fact I believe we could make good use of our porcine pets. A perimeter of pigs could be used to guards bases. They could be used as load bearing animals. Heck, in a pinch they be probably be trained to carry in a vest of explosives into hardened targets. Just start strapping wireless cameras and an earmike then train them to obey voice command.
Heh, suicide pig bombers.

dfaugh

August 13, 2005, 08:53 AM

Unfortunately it isn't as easy as just handing the dog over to a loving family. It's my understanding that guard dogs are extremely hard to control except by the master they've been trained with, and many times the death of a master requires the death of the dog as well.

Many if not all working dogs, if trained properly, make just fine pets...They are however, used to a high activity level, and aren't couch potatoes...But in the right home they can be great, and good personal protection dogs as well.

Hardware

August 13, 2005, 09:02 AM

The Russian military also trained suicide dogs, during WW II. The dogs (half staved) were loaded with explosives, and trained to seek out food under moving tanks; a trigger device attached to their backpacks, would depressed causing an explosion capable of cutting through the steel under belly of the tanks.

Sindawe, a note about those Russian dog-bombs;

Yes, the Russians did use dog bombs in battle. I can't recall the first battle they used them at, but there was a snafu. You see the Russians trained the dogs to run under moving tanks by having a nice, tasty treat under the tanks. Worked great, the dogs would run as fast as they could to get to the tanks.

Problem being: the Russians used the only tanks they had to train the dogs. RUSSIAN tanks. So the first time they used a unit of dog bombs they all ran under friendly tanks. Not one German kill. After that they trained them with captured German equipment but it was late in the game and way past desperation time.

silverlance

August 13, 2005, 09:08 AM

I remember reading something that i think choamsky or ladinsky wrote about how the navy experimented with using dolphins to deliver torpedoes to soviet subs....

needless to say the dolphin would have to be highly depressed...

i think it's silly for people to be "horrified" at them using dogs as delivery medium - they are fighting a war, and war is dirty. this doesn't mean that they're innocent righteous buggers, but ...

armoredman

August 13, 2005, 10:18 AM

Time to form a PETA brigade to fight doggie terrorism.
My puppies are family members, and mobile furry burglar alarms. May these terrorist be tormented in H*ll by demon dogs....

El Rojo

August 13, 2005, 11:40 AM

Abdel Salam Kubaisi, a spokesman for the Muslim Scholars Assn., a hard-line Sunni Arab clerical organization sympathetic to insurgents, called the practice un-Islamic. "Our religion does not permit us to hurt animals," he said, "neither by using them as explosive devices nor in any other manner."Simply amazing. Your religion respects the rights of dogs, but has no respect for some of your own people and most certainly the western devils. My religion is the exact opposite.

It's my understanding that guard dogs are extremely hard to control except by the master they've been trained with, and many times the death of a master requires the death of the dog as well.That was not my experience with a trained drug/aprehension German shephard that used to be part of the California Highway Patrol in the 90s. The dog was a great pet and once I had to watch it for a week. It still loved to play with its ball and it even listened to me when I issued it commands.

I think the terrorists should always use dogs to deliver their explosives. I could think of nothing easier to defend against at a checkpoint. When humans approach, I have to use descretion and hold my fire. If I see a dog walking my way or better yet running full speed at a check point, I am going to shoot it with no hesitation. If it was someone's pet, ooops, here's some money for destroying your property, keep it leashed next time. If it blows up, mission accomplished. Either way, explaining a dead dog and shooting a dog is much easier than human delivered ordinance.

Hardware

August 13, 2005, 04:35 PM

Time to form a PETA brigade to fight doggie terrorism.

Can we strap bombs to PETA members and have them run under terrorist's cars?
:p :evil:

MechAg94

August 13, 2005, 06:32 PM

:D :D :D :D :D

GunGoBoom

August 15, 2005, 12:33 AM

If a Russian soldier can get into a position under a German tank in order to place a dog treat there, why wouldn't he just put a bomb while he's there? :confused:

Lone_Gunman

August 15, 2005, 10:42 AM

This is a very desperate attempt by the insurgents, and I agree it casts doubt on their supposedly endless supply of suicide bombers.

lbmii

August 16, 2005, 11:52 PM

It is just sad. What a bunch of losers.

What is next?

I know RABITS! Killer attact RABITS! We will destroy you with our rabits! Infidels! God willing; may the rabits kill you all! LALALALALALALALALALA!!!!

Sindawe

August 17, 2005, 12:01 AM

I know RABITS! Killer attact RABITS! We will destroy you with our rabits! Infidels! God willing; may the rabits kill you all! LALALALALALALALALALA!!!! Oh, its just a harmless little bunny rabbit! <nudge nudge wink wink say no more>

miko

August 17, 2005, 08:29 AM

The Russian military also trained suicide dogs, during WW II. The dogs (half staved) were loaded with explosives, and trained to seek out food under moving tanks; a trigger device attached to their backpacks, would depressed causing an explosion capable of cutting through the steel under belly of the tanks.
Thatís total BS. Training the dogs to run between the tracks of a tank does not differ a bit from any other kind of training. It is trivial. You get the dog used to carrying a satchel. You let the dog to get used to a sound and sight of a tank. You teach the don to run underneath a standing tank, then you teach the dog to run under a moving tank. About a day of work and few more days to reinforce the habit.
Thatís nothing compared to things I taught service dogs when I was training them.

Not only starvation does not have to be involved, only and idiot would believe that someone could begrudge food to a dog intended to quickly carry a heavy load over broken terrain with dozens of human lives depending on it.

Öfor about 40 years the terrorists have found that its easier to brainwash people thanÖ
Think about this for a moment, would a dog volunteer for this mission if it KNEW what was going to happen? People do. But, of course, were the smart ones.
Much longer than 40 years. Do you know the name of that brainwashed apparently not smart insurgent who said "I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country."
Hilarious, isnít it? :rolleyes:

miko

birddog

August 17, 2005, 09:40 AM

I have a different take. I love my black lab, but could understand him volunteering for suicide missions if there were dozens of virgin poodles waiting for him on the *other side*. Why can only humans have that kind of fun in the afterlife?

Stop being selfish, Highroaders.

:evil:

Cosmoline

August 17, 2005, 03:06 PM

It's my understanding that guard dogs are extremely hard to control except by the master they've been trained with, and many times the death of a master requires the death of the dog as well.

Nonsense. Absolute nonsense. I know vets who had to give up their GSD's when they left Vietnam, and I know the breed extremely well. The idea that a guard dog is some sort of lethal killing machine is complete and utter HOGWASH. They are safer than your average black lab.

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